Meritocracy Society

AT Singapore, parent went wild if necessary when the time come to select school for their children. They appear cannot tolerant when something went wrong against their favor. Especially they show their displeasure when their children lose a place to pave much better PR or foreigner students. They would make noise toward authority for not giving favor enough to ensure their children get a good school. It is a growing trend and not see cool in near future despite MOE adjust its policies to ease Singaporean parent's worry. School balloting system changed recently is a good example for how MOE response people's voice. At the same time, MOE periodically increase school fees to bar foreign students from their school. In fact, such measure will make republic's school vulnerable in competitiveness. The talented foreign students offer locals counterparts a good competition to gauge their level of smartness. 

Given condition, I am surprised to learn about my PR friend's school going children story. How? He is now only P6 which is considered an important year for a place at good secondary school. Hence, competitive level among P6 students is very high with the prospect of getting a place at famous school. To do so, they must score impressive exam result to convince the school board. My friend family is all PR which can be considered second class citizen. However they are treated more likely as foreign students than second tier citizen in term of school fees. Let it be. They have only one child and he is extra-ordinarily doing his school work. He always make sure top in the class every academic year during his primary school journey from P1 through P6. As a result, he got offer letter from two top local schools even before he finished his P6. As a student who currently attend express class in which top crops of republic able to attend, I am not so wonder to get offer letter from top school.

One is NUS High School which only offer 150 students per year. Another is ACS (I) who accept 500 students each year. It is up to him where he wants to study. What a good feeling for a foreign student is it? No wonder his parent are always proud of their child's achievement while I am even proud of him. At the same time, I think of Singapore's meritocracy system that make republic different from the rest of world. No wonder Singapore's education system is among world class. They know who should be awarded and who should be penalized. My friend family doesn't need to worry for getting good school for their single child. These two school will not accept any student for money or background. It only measure merit of student at their entry test. I think such practice will make Singapore government to capture talented students for their future scholar or leaders. Anyway, I wish to share this experience to those immigrant family who has school going children. Make sure your child is doing well and the offer will knock your doors. Needless to worry for a place at good school so long as your child is excellent. Lets believe in meritocracy culture society.